AI Startup Launch Video: 24-Hour Ship Guide for 2025 Founders

Last updated 2025

TL;DR [box]

Template ready: Copy the free Google-Slides storyboard, drop in your screens.

Zero-budget tools: Use Kapwing + ElevenLabs; export 1080 × 1080 in <30 min.

Hook formula: “We’re [name], and we turn [pain] into [outcome] with AI.” Say it in first 3 s.

Post everywhere: LinkedIn → Product Hunt → YouTube Shorts; same clip, different caption.

Kill or keep: 45 % view-through rate = iterate; 55 % + and 5 % CTR = scale with ads.

Opening paragraph

An ai startup launch video is a 30–60-second explainer that shows your product doing one job, ending with a CTA to join waitlist or book a demo. You can build it in under a day with free templates (LinkedIn guide), AI voice-over, and stock screen recordings. Use it when you have no budget, need traffic for Product Hunt launch day, and want asset reuse across socials. Skip it if you’re pre-MVP or raising >$5 M—then hire an agency. Apply it by scripting the pain-point first, stacking three proof screenshots, and finishing with a calendar link.

What is ai startup launch video?

Definition: An “ai startup launch video” is a short, product-led clip that demonstrates one AI-powered workflow and ends with a single call-to-action. It is used to convert cold traffic on launch day and supply evergreen content for ads, email signatures, and investor decks.

AI startup launch video — Download & Quick Start

Grab the Product Hunt storyboard (Google Slides).

Duplicate the 8-slide deck; replace placeholder screens with your product (1080 × 1080 PNG).

Record a 30-second Loom; export audio as WAV.

Run audio through ElevenLabs “Nicole” voice for polish; download MP3.

Drop slides & voice into Kapwing; auto-sync to 0.8-second beats.

Burn in captions (90 % of social views are muted).

Export 1080 × 1080, ≤25 MB for LinkedIn; duplicate 9:16 for Reels/Shorts.

Schedule: PH launch 00:01 UTC, LinkedIn personal 09:00, company 12:00, YouTube Short next day.

How to use it (step-by-step)

Pre-production

Script prompt: “Explain how [user] wastes [X hours] on [task] and how our AI cuts it to [Y minutes].” Keep total word count ≤65.

Duration target: 35 s ± 5 s; retention drops 20 % after 45 s.

First 3 s: logo + hook line above.

Production

Capture screens at 60 fps; zoom region on key button.

Use contrasting cursor highlight; viewers track motion.

Post-production

Add waveform-on-screen for first 1.5 s to signal audio.

CTA last 5 s: “Get early access—link in first comment.”

Thumbnail: white background, product UI left, big text right “AI that [outcome]”.

Distribution & metrics

LinkedIn: tag 3 niche influencers; goal 5 % CTR on “see more”.

Product Hunt: embed video in first comment, not top post (loads faster).

Track: 3-second view rate, 50 % completion, click-to-signup %, save/share ratio.

Iterate: if <40 % completion, cut fluff in first 10 s; if CTR <3 %, tighten CTA copy.

Comparison — DIY vs Agency vs AI tools

Cost

DIY: $0–$150 (tools)

Agency: $3 k–$15 k

AI tools: $50–$500 (subscription)

Time-to-publish

DIY: 1 day

Agency: 3–6 weeks

AI tools: 2 hours

Iteration speed

DIY: instant

Agency: 1 week + cost

AI tools: instant

Creative control

DIY: full

Agency: limited rounds

AI tools: template-bound

Distribution fit

DIY: social-first

Agency: polished for ads

AI tools: social-first

Risks

DIY: amateur look if poor design

Agency: cash burn, stale assets

AI tools: generic feel, watermark

Use DIY until $1 M ARR or 50 k waitlist; switch to agency for TV/streaming spots; layer AI tools for weekly iterations.

Practical Tips & Cautions

Bold lead tip: Keep the UI cursor in the upper-third—mobile crop is 4:5 on LinkedIn.

Bold lead tip: Export SRT caption file separately; re-upload on each platform to avoid auto-caption typos.

Bold lead tip: Never say “AI-powered” without showing the model output in same frame—viewers call BS.

Founders often miss this — the video is not the finish line; email the video GIF to new sign-ups within 5 minutes to boost activation 18 %.

Compliance: Don’t claim “100 % automation” or “guaranteed ROI.” Say “early-access AI features” and show waitlist disclaimers.

FAQs

How long should an ai startup launch video be?

30–45 seconds keeps >55 % completion on LinkedIn and YouTube Shorts. If your workflow needs three steps, split into a series, not one long clip.

What must be included?

Hook (pain), proof (UI demo), social proof (logo strip or metric), single CTA (waitlist/calendar). Skip team intros—no one cares yet.

Best cheap tools?

Kapwing for editing, ElevenLabs for voice, Screen Studio for smooth cursor zoom, Fathom for subtities. Total <$80 month.

Where to publish first?

Product Hunt comment → LinkedIn personal → YouTube Shorts → Tweet. Re-order only after you have >1 k followers on any channel.

Cost range?

$0 (DIY) to $500 (AI stack) to $5 k (boutique agency). Budget ≤5 % of pre-seed raise for video.

How to measure ROI?

Track signups attributed to video link (UTM), 50 % completion rate as quality signal, and CAC versus Google-search ads—aim for 30 % lower CAC.

B2B vs B2C difference?

B2B: show dashboard, numbers, integrations. B2C: show emotion, before/after lifestyle. Same length, different thumbnail text.

Conclusion

Ship your ai startup launch video in one day: copy the template, follow the checklist, hit publish, then iterate using the metrics above. Watch the example here, grab the assets, and get your first 100 waitlist signups before the week ends.

Grounded in referenced launch examples and verified startup marketing sources.